When to Buy Generic Products for Your Baby or Toddler

Is it okay to buy generic brands for your baby? The answer is yes, if you know what to look for.

Parenthood comes with a pretty hefty price tag, so it’s a good idea to pinch pennies whenever you can, even if your baby’s arrival is months away. Keep this in mind when you shop: From shampoo to cereal to diapers, sometimes the only difference between a generic and brand-name product is the label itself — the ingredients may be exactly the same. And since going generic can save you a few dollars, it often pays (literally) to choose no-brand or store-brand kid-care items. Of course, not all generic products are equal — here are tips on when it makes sense to stick to brand names and when you can safely opt out.

Formula

It’s easy to justify spending more when it comes to nourishing your baby. But here’s some happy news: You really don’t have to. Since all formulas must pass the nutrient guidelines provided by the Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN), generic formulas contain the same high-quality ingredients as brand names.

There is one difference, though: Generic formulas may not contain added supplements, such as DHA and ARA (naturally found in breast milk, which can boost your baby’s brain, eye and nervous system). Your little one will get those nutrients when he starts solids, but if you don’t want to wait until then, a brand name may be the way to go. Check with your pediatrician if you’re not sure.

When buying generic formula, there is one requirement: Make sure it’s made in the US. Imported formulas that don’t meet FDA’s regulations are illegal, so you don't need to worry for the most part, but it never hurts to read labels. American-made formulas are subject to the FDA’s regulatory oversight.

Diapers and wipes

Once you’ve got a baby on board, one of the biggest drains on your budget is the seemingly endless pile of diapers your little piddler goes through. But you can start saving right away by giving generic brands a try. Many store-brand diapers are made by famous-name manufacturers, often at considerable savings.

Don’t be afraid to experiment. You’ll either luck out or you’ll find some no-name diapers that irritate your baby’s bum or simply can’t hold up to extra-heavy poop loads. (Then again, this can happen with name brands as well.) When it comes to wipes, give generics a go as long as they are hypoallergenic and free of perfumes, dyes and preservatives.

Diaper creams

The main ingredient in many diaper creams is zinc oxide, which provides a protective coating between your sweetie’s sensitive skin and the rash-rousing contents of his diaper. To prevent diaper rash, a cream (whether generic or name brand) should contain between 10 to 15 percent zinc oxide to protect your tot’s tender tush. If you’re looking to treat an existing rash, upgrading to a brand-name cream with a higher percentage of zinc oxide will help heal your sweetie’s irritated skin faster.

Skin creams

If you’d like to try a generic cream or lotion for your little one, look for products that are hypoallergenic and free of perfumes, dyes, and preservatives. Also take a look at the main ingredient. A brand name like Aquaphor, which is mostly petroleum jelly, boosts absorption, so your baby’s skin stays moisturized longer; but generic petroleum jelly has the same essential properties. Bottom line: Go generic if you can’t feel or see the difference.

Baby basics

When it comes to the items in your baby’s medicine cabinet — tissues, swabs, bandages, and the like — there’s nothing inherently different between well-known products and generic brands. But since it’s hard to predict little differences like texture, smell, and durability, buy a small package of the budget-friendly store brand to test out before buying in bulk.

Over-the-counter medicine

Active ingredients, like ibuprofen or the expectorant guaifenesin, are the same for most over-the-counter medications, whether they’re generic or brand name. The main difference between products is the inactive ingredients, including kid-friendly flavors and formulations that better-known manufacturers use to make meds more palatable to your tot’s taste buds.

A good rule of thumb: For single-active-ingredient medicine, like infant acetaminophen, it’s fine to buy generic from the get-go. After your child reaches his fourth birthday — and it’s safe for him to take multiple-active-ingredient meds like cough or cold soothers — try generic first. If your preschooler balks at the taste, upgrade to a brand name with a kid-friendly flavor.

Kid-care bath products

Brand-name soaps and shampoos are all about sensual appeal — sweet smells, pretty colors and packaging, and lots of suds and bubbles — not stuff your baby cares about. So no need to shell out extra cash when generic bath products and plain old water clean your cutie just fine. Just scan the ingredient list with this in mind: Less is always more. If there’s a word you can’t pronounce, don’t buy that product.

Cereals

Cereal is a breakfast staple, and it makes economic sense to opt for store or no-name brands if everyone likes the taste. Perform your own taste test at home and decide. If your older tot insists on a brand advertised on TV, buy the pricier option once and when the box is empty, fill it up with the generic brand.

From the What to Expect editorial team and Heidi Murkoff, author of What to Expect the First Year. Health information on this site is based on peer-reviewed medical journals and highly respected health organizations and institutions including ACOG (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists), CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) and AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics), as well as the What to Expect books by Heidi Murkoff.

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What to Expect the First Year, 3rd Edition, Heidi Murkoff and Sharon Mazel.